How’s That Working Out For Ya?

[Joanne98]

So it’s pretty clear that Obama’s political strategy is to antagonize the Democratic base in order to appeal to the independents (who, I must point out, would never be as motivated to turn out as diehard Democrats would). Looks like it’s about half-successful:

The poll was taken from Dec. 2 through Wednesday, as the president proposed a two-year freeze on federal civilian workers’ pay and cut a deal with congressional Republicans to extend expiring tax cuts — even those for the wealthy, which he’d opposed.

Overall, just 42 percent of registered voters approve of how he’s doing his job, while 50 percent disapprove.

Obama’s standing among Democrats dropped from a month ago, with his approval rating falling to 74 percent from 83 percent, and his disapproval rating almost doubling, from 11 percent to 21 percent.

Among liberals, his approval rating dropped from 78 percent to 69 percent and his disapproval rating jumped from 14 percent to 22 percent.

His position among independents remained virtually the same, with 39 percent approving and 52 percent disapproving. A month ago, it was 38-54.

The president’s continued failure to rally independents could ruin his bid for re-election. A hypothetical 2012 matchup showed him getting the support of 44 percent of registered voters and Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, getting 46 percent.

Epic. Political. Fail. Obama has sacrificed guaranteed votes (and contributions, and boots on the ground) in exchange for absolutely nothing. Even if protecting corporations and wealth was really his goal all along, I would still expect him to at least try to get re-elected.

http://firedoglake.com/2010/12/12/how%e2%80%99s-that-working-out-for-ya/

[ProSense]

1. Irony

The polls were lying when they said the President's liberal support was in the 80s, now they're valid when they say it has dropped.

Well, I accept both, but see no dire consequences. Polls are snapshots of a moment, and change with the news cycle.

[emulatorloo]

4. FDL has their viewpoint, they will see what they want to see

irregardless of contradicting or confusing details.

[namahage]

6. When Romney's numbers are 2% higher than Obama's,

all of a sudden it's "Romney would beat Obama." As if there was no such thing as a MOE.

Oh, wait. When Obama's disapproval among independents drops 2%, it's "virtually the same."

[emulatorloo]

2. "The poll found that voters are inclined to blame congressional Democrats and Republicans more than

than the president if the deal to extend tax reductions falls apart and taxes go up on Jan. 1."

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/12/10/105105/poll-obamas-losing-support-romney.html#ixzz17x14FhhB

So there is a lot of contradictory and or complex info in that poll that FDL seems to ignore.

The other thing is, the election is not being held today, and I doubt Romney is going to be the Nominee. 2012 is a long way away.

[JamesA1102]

12. FDL is not interested in facts

When Hamsher was on MSNBC last week, O'Donnell had to correct her lies.

[emulatorloo]

13. Yes I saw that panel too. She came off as rather uninformed

It was an eye opener too when Ezra Klein and O'Donnell discussed the tax relief for the lower income brackets and how their taxes would increase significantly if tax cuts expired. Hamsher's response: The white house is using the Poor as A Shield!!!!!!. No empathy for the actual people involved at all.

[JamesA1102]

16. Hamsher is a limosine liberal

She doesn't care about the poor, just winning the political fight.

I loved the other guy on the panel, I can't remember his name, who didn't even know what the lowest tax rate was. That's is being totally out of touch.

[FrenchieCat]

3. I don't like polls when they bring good news either......

so I guess, at least I'm consistent.

[boppers]

5. It's FDL. Not much more needs to be said. eom

[golfguru]

7. Then how do you explain 80%+ approval of the president

from all democratic voters and 95% from A-A voters?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. The president is fine

if he keeps away from Republicans!

[Bluenorthwest]

9. The OP says that the 83% dropped to 74% among Democrats

overall. So that kinda explains it.

[Exilednight]

10. If his approval among self described liberal Democrats falls below 60% he will

have real problems with his re-election bid. You can argue that no president gets elected without independents, but the same is true about the base. If the base abandons their party leaders, then their candidate goes down in flames.

It's the base that goes out and does the grunt work and nudges the independents to vote for their candidate. Want proof? Look at what happened when liberal and progressives jumped ship in 2000. The 2000 campaign also proves that you don't have to lose much of the liberal and progressive base, just a small enough percentage that is willing to throw their weight behind another candidate and not help out the establishment.

This is why the Democratic party ignores liberals and progressives at their own peril.

Before anyone accuses me of advocating a third party, I would like to point out that I am doing no such thing. I am just pointing out the lessons that history can teach us. After-all, those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

[dionysus]

11. quoting Pailin to bash the president is an epic fail if you ask me...

:shrug:

[jefferson_dem]

14. FDL.

:rofl:

Are they still around?

[ClassWarrior]

15. And, might I add?...

"So it’s pretty clear that Obama’s political strategy is to antagonize the Democratic base in order to appeal to the independents (who, I must point out, would never be as motivated to turn out as diehard Democrats would, and who would never have turned out for him the first time if it weren't for the diehard Dems and progressives who worked tirelessly to get out the vote in 2008). "

NGU.

[Phx_Dem]

17. FDL? Yawn. Gallup poll gives him a net 5 pt gain in 1 day. n/t

[liskddksil]

18. Never infer anything from 1 day samples

its just statistical noise until a clear pattern emerges.

[OwnedByFerrets]

19. Nothing has been working out for me in quite some time